Richard Walley

Dr Richard Walley OAM is a Nyoongar man, one of Australia's leading Aboriginal performers, musicians and writers, who has been a campaigner for the Indigenous cause.

Richard Barry Walley, born in 1953 in Meekatharra, 750 km north of Perth, Western Australia, spent much of his childhood at Pinjarra, 80 km south of Perth. began his work in social justice for Indigenous Australians in the Perth region, the Nyoongars, at a young age. By 23 he was chairing Western Australia's Aboriginal Advisory Board, while also involved in the formation or operation of the Aboriginal Housing Board, Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal Legal Service, Aboriginal Alcoholism Committee, Aboriginal Sports Foundation and the New Era Aboriginal Fellowship.

In 1978, he founded the Middar Aboriginal Theatre with three friends, including Ernie Dingo, who he had met playing basketball. Richard had realised early the powerful potential of theatre to raise issues and bring messages to the broader community, black and white.

Aiming to take the Nyungar culture from the south-west corner of Australia to as many people as possible, the Middar group went on to perform in 32 countries, on every continent, to live audiences totalling almost ten million people.

After acting in theatre and TV, Richard went on to further develop his theatre skills, holding the role of either director or assistant director in 10 productions in theatre and TV from 1982 to 1993. Several of these productions took place in the United States and the UK. During this period Richard also wrote several screenplays.

Richard is also a renowned didgeridoo player and has produced a six CD collection of didgeridoo music that is inspired by the six seasons of the Nyungar calendar.

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